The Minister of Labour reconvenes with the UGT and business confederations to resume labour law reform negotiations following an appeal from the President of the Republic to resolve the recent impasse.

The government has approved new regulations to resolve undivided inheritances, aiming to boost housing supply and enhance fire prevention efforts.

The Portuguese government is set to approve tenancy law reforms this Thursday to accelerate eviction processes for non-payment, aiming to restore landlord confidence and increase the supply of habitable rental properties in major metropolitan areas.

The process of allocating pensions that combine contributions from Social Security and the Caixa Geral de Aposentações (CGA) is currently complex and takes an average of seven months. The president of the Social Security Information Institute has indicated that improvements are expected by the end of June.

The proposed reform of the Code of Criminal Procedure threatens to impose financial penalties on lawyers for actions deemed 'manifestly unfounded' by judges, creating a two-tier criminal justice system that disproportionately impacts less affluent citizens. With fines ranging from €204 to €10,200, and potential disciplinary actions for repeat offenses, this legislation undermines legal certainty and fairness, ultimately jeopardizing the right to a fair trial.

The Government has actively engaged in revising labour law, presenting a draft bill on 24 July and reconvening the Permanent Commission for Social Dialogue in September. Following several meetings with business confederations and the UGT, a significant meeting is scheduled for 3 March to further discuss the labour law reform, indicating ongoing negotiations and collaboration among stakeholders.

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Lisbon and Porto to protest against the government's proposed changes to the labour law, known as the 'Work XXI' reform. Led by the CGTP union, the protests highlighted concerns that the reforms would negatively impact workers' rights. CGTP's Secretary-General, Tiago Oliveira, called for the government to withdraw the labour package, emphasizing its detrimental effects on the workforce.

The article discusses the detrimental impact of bureaucratic delays and obstacles on economic activity, highlighting findings from a recent INE survey. It identifies the judicial system, licensing, and taxation as the primary barriers to business development, exacerbated by ineffective public policies. The author calls for legislative reforms to address these issues, particularly in the judicial and licensing sectors, to facilitate investment and growth in the economy.

The issue of fake recibos verdes is a critical concern that transcends political ideologies, emphasizing the need for labor justice. Addressing this problem is essential for ensuring fair labor practices and protecting workers' rights.

In his analysis, Carlos Rodrigues argues that the public's fatigue is not with the electoral process itself, but rather with the persistent issues that remain unresolved despite repeated elections. He emphasizes the need for effective policies that address the economic and social challenges faced by citizens, suggesting that voters are seeking real solutions rather than just political rhetoric.

Every day, justice declares insolvency for 17 individuals, with commerce and workshops leading the charge in business bankruptcies. The crisis is also escalating in sectors such as hospitality, catering, and agriculture, indicating a broader economic downturn.

The Government plans to submit a proposal for revising the labour law to Parliament despite lacking an agreement in the Social Concertation. This move raises questions about whether Chega will play a crucial role in facilitating the reform of the Labour Code, as the Government seeks support from opposition parties without an absolute majority.

This analytical piece examines how Portugal’s political system is being reshaped by institutional change, party realignment and shifts in governance practices, and what those shifts mean for policy-making and the distribution of power. It argues that Portugal confronts 21st‑century crises while many state institutions and rules remain rooted in a 20th‑century model, producing a structural mismatch that constrains policy responsiveness. The article surveys changes in party competition (including fragmentation and moves to the right), evolving coalition dynamics, pressures for legal and administrative reform, and the potential effects on decentralisation, judicial and electoral arrangements and representation (including for expatriate communities). It outlines reform priorities and trade-offs as the system reconfigures to better manage contemporary economic, social and geopolitical challenges.

The Government has altered the governance model for European funds, removing the statutory right to appeal decisions by fund managing authorities. The change, approved by the Council of Ministers on 9 January but not yet published in the Diário da República, is presented as a simplification intended to make fund administration clearer and more effective. While the amendment may speed up decision-making and reduce administrative burdens, it eliminates a direct procedural remedy for beneficiaries and stakeholders — including SMEs, NGOs and expat nationals — and raises questions about accountability, transparency and conformity with national and EU administrative-law protections. Key issues to monitor are the final text published in the Official Gazette, any alternative oversight or review mechanisms that are put in place (internal review, ombudsman, monitoring committees or judicial review), and the potential for legal or political challenges that could arise if ordinary remedies are perceived as insufficient.

UGT has drafted a counterproposal containing nearly 100 amendments to the Government’s labour package and plans to submit it to the Minister of Labour after the presidential election second round on 8 February. The document is framed as a comprehensive alternative aimed at reshaping the proposed reforms to strengthen workers’ rights, legal protections and workplace standards, and to force substantive negotiation with ministers over the direction of labour law change.

A parliamentary move — despite abstentions from PSD and CDS-PP — brings Portugal closer to lengthening the initial parental leave available to working parents. The new episode of the 'Ao Trabalho!' podcast examines that development alongside other labour‑market highlights, offering concise analysis of labour, social-security and employment-law developments every Thursday.

The National Association of Parish Councils (Anafre) begins a new term focused on reviewing the local finance law and the statute governing local elected officials. The move signals an agenda to address budgetary frameworks, state transfers and financial autonomy for parish councils, and to clarify the legal status, duties and protections of elected representatives — potentially prompting legislative reform with practical implications for local governance and service delivery.

José Manuel Pureza, national coordinator of the Bloco, criticised the Government's proposed labour law package, accusing the labour minister of intransigence and asserting that her refusal to compromise reflects the Government's broader stance. Pureza urged firm commitments from Seguro and argued that a President sworn to uphold the Constitution should repudiate measures he says the package represents. The intervention heightens the political tension around the reform and raises questions about forthcoming presidential and parliamentary responses.

Presidential candidate André Ventura urged rival António José Seguro in Caldas da Rainha to say explicitly whether he supports amending the Constitution to end the duplication of lifelong pensions awarded to former public officeholders (citing examples such as Armando Vara). Speaking at a street rally attended by more than 100 supporters, Ventura framed the issue as a clear policy choice with constitutional and social-security implications and pressed Seguro to clarify his position ahead of the election.

The Court of Auditors has criticised the Government for failing to update the Code of Mutual Associations, leaving a regulatory and supervisory gap that jeopardises financial stability and the protection of Montepio members. The audit highlights weaknesses in oversight of mutual banking structures and calls on the Government to enact legal and regulatory reforms urgently to close the supervision gap and reduce risks to depositors and members, including expatriate stakeholders. The ruling frames the omission as a systemic threat requiring targeted reform of governance, prudential rules and supervisory resources.

In a document submitted to the Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security at a bilateral meeting on 3 September, CGTP proposes revoking banked hours and widening access to flexible working arrangements. The union seeks to extend flexible hours to parents with children up to 16 years old and to introduce limits on fixed‑term contracts. If adopted, the measures would shift scheduling power toward workers with family responsibilities and constrain employer use of temporary hours arrangements.

From 1 January 2026 the amendment to the VAT periodicity regime shifts the onus from the Tax and Customs Authority to the taxpayer: rather than receiving an official reclassification, taxpayers must now submit a formal declaration to request a change of periodicity. The declaration should identify the taxpayer (tax identification number and contact details), state the current and requested VAT periodicity classification, give the intended effective date and the legal or factual reasons for the change (for example a change in turnover, accounting regime or business structure), and attach any supporting documents required by the Authority.

In practice the declaration is normally submitted electronically via the Authority’s online portal and must be signed with the appropriate digital signature or authentication method. Before filing, reconcile turnover figures and previous VAT returns so the requested periodicity is consistent with statutory thresholds; indicate whether the change is temporary or permanent; and keep a copy of the submission receipt. Late, incomplete or absent declarations can lead to the Authority maintaining the previous classification, administrative penalties or cash‑flow disruption from an unexpected reporting frequency. For most taxpayers — and especially for expats or businesses undergoing structural change — it is advisable to consult an accountant or tax adviser to check eligibility, prepare supporting evidence and confirm the correct form fields and deadlines on the Authority’s website.

Companies are increasingly sensitive to competition issues as competition law enters a phase of expectation and apparent transformation, according to Sara M. Rodrigues, senior associate and co-ordinator of Eversheds Sutherland’s Competition, Trade and Foreign Investment Department. Rodrigues warns that investigations have ongoing consequences and that regulators — and firms — must recognise that processes do not end with the initial investigation conclusion, heightening the need for robust compliance, legal preparedness and attention to reform and enforcement trends.